CEO of Scripture Union Queensland, Tim Mander said significant take-up of the $20,000 Federal Government chaplaincy grants – up to 70 per cent in some states – indicates school satisfaction with the national program, despite the retiring Democrats’ Lyn Allison calling it “discriminatory” for funding religious chaplains only.

“The feedback we’re getting from principals and schools is overwhelmingly positive,” said Mr Mander, adding chaplains bring an important “spiritual dimension” to the “holistic education of children”.

SU has supported school chaplains for over 20 years and is the major school chaplain employer in Queensland, ACT and Tasmania.

Since the program began in 2006, the number of chaplains in government schools nationwide has tripled to close to 1900.

Senator Allison claimed SU chaplains were sometimes unqualified, proselytised students and promoted Hillsong programs such as Shine.

While evangelism is in SU’s charter, Mr Mander said all chaplains work under education department guidelines. “One aspect is that the chaplain cannot proselytise or evangelise and we respect and adhere to that.”

SU chaplains undertake formal training which which meets department standards, he said. “We take training and equipping these workers very seriously.”

Mr Mander said SU has “absolutely no relationship with Hillsong whatsoever”, but Shine is one of many programs SU chaplains use when appropriate.